Can opener assembly



C. F. GRUSKA CAN OPENER ASSEMBLY Filed 001;. 13, 1964 Dec. 6, 1966 38 INVENTOR.

@CmZ/'F Gram United States Patent O 3,289,294 CAN OPENER ASSEMBLY Casimir F. Gruska, Qhicago, lll., assigner to American Home Products Corporation, a corporation of Belaware Filed Oct.. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 403,499 9 Claims. (Cl. 30-9) This invention relates to a can opener of the type wherein a cutter and traction wheel are operatively interconnected via a unitary sheet metal mounting panel and said cutter and traction wheel occupy positions in forwardly projecting relation to a wall or other upright supporting surface via a main frame member of cast metal construction to which said mounting panel is attached, and having means for establishing a fixed connection between said main frame member and said wall or other upright supporting surface.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive assembly wherein the mounting panel interconnecting the cutter and traction wheel may be readily attached to the main frame member without the use of screws or other extraneous fastening devices.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and com- Ibinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended `claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing `forming a part f this specification:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a can opener embodying the features of this invention as the same appears in fully assembled and installed relation to an upright supporting surface.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view of the can opener mounting member as the same appears in side elevation prior to attachment to the main frame member.

As shown in FIG. l, a can opener assembly representing an embodiment of the present invention includes a base member designed for die casting, said base member having a supporting arm and wing 11 and a head 12 to which said arm 10* and wing 11 are integrally joined to occupy angularly related planes in forwardly projecting relation to said head 12. A bracket 13 is shown secured by screws 14 to an upright wall 15 with which said head 12 has interengagement to establish a fixed mounting of the base member on said wall wherein the arm 10 presents an upright surface and the wing 11 extends horizontally therefrom in downwardly offset relation to the upper edge of arm 10. Wing 11 extends the full length of the arm 10 except for a gap provided in said wing in vertically aligned relation to a flange 16 extending horizontally from the upper edge of wing 10. The flange 16 is joined to the wing 11 at opposite sides of the gap by upright ribs 17. An upright rib 18 along the forward edge of wing 10 is joined to the forwardmost rib 17 by a wing section 11a. A crown member 19 of suitable composition, such as synthetic resin, of such contour as to form an attractive enclosure for the upwardly open areas above the wing 11 and within the confines of a vertical projection of the upper edge of arm 10 as well as the upper edge of wing 11a at the forward end of arm 1t), has seating engagement with said upper edge of arm 10 3,289,294 Patented Hee. 6, 1966 ICC and wing 11 -as well as outer edge portions of the wing section 11a and the ribs 17 and 18. The portion of the crown member 19 opposite the gap in the wing 11 is open except 4for a portion directly above the flange 16 so as to expose the upright surface of the arm 10 facing said gap. A tenon 20 forming an integral downward extension of the crown member 19 has tight lit in an opening 20a provided in the flange 16 and is secured against upward withdrawal from said opening 20a via a spring fastener 21. A second tenon 22 forming a rearward extension of the crown mem-ber 19 has interlocked engagement with la recess 23 in the head 12 of the can opener frame. Thus the crown member 19 is securely fastened against withdrawal from `a seated position on the arm 1li and wing 11 of the can opener frame.

Reference numeral 24 designates a mounting member of stamped metal construction having an upper portion proportioned for reception within the area thus bordered by the flange 16 and the upright ribs 17. An upwardly inclined arcuate slot 2S formed in the mounting member 2d provides a bearing in which the hub 26 of a can opener traction or driving wheel 27 is journalled for rotation as well as supported for guided movement between upper and lower positions defined by opposite ends of the slot 25. An arm 2S is secured to the hub 26 of the traction wheel 27 by suitable fastening means, such as a screw 29, to provide a handle for operating the traction wheel 27. A cam 3l) secured to the hub 26 of the traction wheel :between the handle 28 and the surface of the mounting member facing the area -occupied by the handle 28, for movement in unison with movement of the traction wheel, and a pin 31 projecting `from the surface of the 4mounting member in the lpath of the.cam 30 with which the cam has peripheral riding engagement in response to rotation of the traction wheel causes the latter to be rocked from a lowered position in slot 25 to a raised position as shown in FIG. l, via rotation of the handle in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. l. Likewise rotation of the handle in a `counter clockwise direction as seen in FIG. l will cause the periphery of the cam to ride on the pin 31 in a manner to return the traction wheel 37 to its lowered position. While in upwardly rocked position as shown in FIG. l, the traction wheel 27 is overlapped by a cutter wheel 32. A stud 33 secured to the mounting member 24 in overhead relation to the traction wheel 27 and fitted with a sleeve or bearing 34 of suitable friction-free material such as Delfin provides a downwardly and outwardly inclined support on which the cutter wheel has rotary movement about said stud 33 as an `axis as well as -axial movement toward and away from the mounting member 24.. Connecting means through which the mounting member occupies a xed position relative to the base member 10 in a plane parallel to the path of rotation of the traction wheel include `a pair of lugs 35 projecting from the face of the base member 10 in downwardly spaced relation to the flange 16 and notches 36 provided in opposite upright edge portions of mounting member 24 which have mating engagement with the lugs 35 when the member 24 is in seated engagement with surface of the base member 10 from `which said lugs project. While thus suspended on the lugs 35, a pair of ears 24a defined by horizontally projecting extensions of members 24 occupy positions in upward engagement with lower surfaces of the wing 11 and wing section 11a in downward alignment with the ribs 17.

Movement of the mounting member 2d relative to the arm 10 axially of the traction wheel axis is prevented by a spring clip retainer 37 secured to and extending downwardly from the flange 16 in overlapping relation to the cutter wheel 32. The surface of the flange `16 facing the area occupied by the mounting member 24 and an offset formed in each of the ribs f7 adjoining said flange 16 cooperate to define a pair of grooves 38 in which opposite edge portions of the spring clip have seated engagement along a line substantially parallel to the surface o-f the flange 16 opposite thereto. While the clip is thus seated in the grooves 38 an edge portion of the clip spanning the distance between the grooves 38 has inward engagement with a face portion of the mounting member underlying said flange 16 to prevent movement of the mounting member in the direction of the clip. A pair of downwardly open recesses 39 formed in the surface of the flange i6 facing the surface of the clip opposite thereto and a pair of tongues 40 sheared and bent upwardly from the clip portion have interengagement effective to prevent withdrawal of the clip from a seated position in the grooves 38 whereby the clip is securely anchored to the arm 10. The clip 3'7 is inherently stressed to apply forces against the hub of the cutter wheel normally urging the wheel axially toward the frame 24 while also permitting the cutter wheel to adjust itself in a direction away from the frame 24@ so as to ride or pass around an irregularity encountered in the can when the can is undergoing cutting action via the cutter wheel.

Although but one specic embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A can opener assembly having a base member for attachment to a wall or the like, a traction wheel, a mounting member having front and rear faces and means supporting said traction wheel on said mounting member and defining an axis in intersecting relation to said front and rear faces of ythe mounting member about which said traction wheel is rotatable while said traction wheel has axial confronting relation to said front face of said mounting member, an upright seating area on said base member with which an upper area of said mounting member conforms for rearward face-toface engagement with said seating area, lugs on one of said members and mating recesses on the other of said members to define interitting support means operative to locate said mounting member in a xed position on said base member radially of the axis of the traction wheel when said upper area of .the mounting member has said face-to-face engagement with said seating area, a cutter wheel supported on said mounting member for rotation about an axis upwardly of the axis of rotation of said traction wheel and in radially overlapping relation to said traction wheel, a flange extending from said base member forwardly of said seating area and in overhead relation to said mounting member, a spring member having a first portion thereof in face-to-face engagement with and secured to the underside of said flange, and having a second portion thereof in forwardly and downwardly extending relation lto said flange with which said cutter wheel has axial engagement, said first portion of said spring member having a rearwardly facing edge with which said mounting member has forward engagement to prevent Withdrawal of said mounting member from said interlitting support means.

2. A can opener assembly according to claim l, wherein said intertting support means are defined by a lug on one of said members and a recess formed in the other member with which said lug has mating relation.

3. A can opener assembly according to claim 1, wherei in said interitting support means are delined by a pair of lugs projecting from said seating area of the base member and a pair of recesses in the mounting member With which said lugs have mating relation.

4. A can opener assembly according to claim ll, wherein said retainer means includes a spring anchored to said base member with which said cutter wheel has axial engagement to limit axial movement of said cutter wheel in a direction away from said mounting member.

5. A can opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein a flange extending from said base member in vertical relation to said seating area provides a downwardly facing surface with which the mounting member has upward engagement, and said retainer means includes a spring secured to the underside of said flange with which the mounting member has forward engagement.

6. A can opener assembly according to claim l, wherein said cutter wheel has movement toward and away from said mounting member axially of the axis on which it is supported for rotation, and said retainer means includes a spring secured to the underside of said flange With which the mounting member has forward engagement and an end portion of said spring extends downwardly from said liange with which said cutter Wheel has axial engagement to urge said wheel in the direction of the mounting member.

7. A can opener assembly according `to claim 1., wherein said ange and a pair of shoulders formed integrally with said base member in downwardly spaced relation to the ange cooperate to define a groove at opposite sides of and facing inwardly of the area below said flange in which edge portions of the spring facing the underside of said ange are slidably fitted.

8. A can opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said liange provides a downwardly facing surface with which the mounting member has upward engagement, and wherein said base member is provided with upwardly facing seat areas along opposite upper edges thereof, and a hood forming an upward continuation of side walls of said base member adjoining said seat is supported on said seat, and means for securing said hood in fixed relation to said base member includes a tenon formed integrally with and extending downwardly from said hood into the area below the flange and the portion of the spring underlying said ange via registering clearance areas in said flange and said portion of the spring, and a locking member engaging the underside of said spring at opposite sides of said clearance area and the portion of the tenon projecting downwardly therethrough.

9. A can opener assembly according to claim `1, wherein downwardly open recesses formed in said flange and upwardly offset projections provided in the spring opposite said recesses cooperate to trap said spring against withdrawal from a seated position below said ange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,130 2/1939 Murdock 30-9 2,573,031 10/1951 La Forte 30-15.5 2,601,303 6/1952 Landry 30-9 2,694,855 11/1954 Talge et al. 30-9 2,802,258 8/1957 La Forte 30-9 2,814,103 11/1957 McLean 30-9 3,059,333 11/1962 Landry 30-15.5

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CAN OPENER ASSEMBLY HAVING A BASE MEMBER FOR ATTACHMENT TO A WALL OR THE LIKE, A TRACTION WHEEL, A MOUNTING MEMBER HAVING FRONT AND REAR FACES AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID TRACTION WHEEL ON SAID MOUNTING MEMBER AND DEFINING AN AXIS IN INTERSECTING RELATION TO SAID FRONT AND REAR FACES OF THE MOUNTING MEMBER ABOUT WHICH SAID TRACTION WHEEL IS ROTATABLE WHILE SAID TRACTION WHEEL HAS AXIAL CONFRONTING RELATION TO SAID FRONT FACE OF SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, AN UPRIGHT SEATING AREA ON SAID BASE MEMBER WITH WHICH AN UPPER AREA OF SAID MOUNTING MEMBER CONFORMS FOR REARWARD FACE-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEATING AREA, LUGS ON ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND MATING RECESSES ONTHE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS TO DEFINE INTERFITTING SUPPORT MEANS OPERATIVE TO LOCATE SAID MOUNTING MEMBER IN A FIXED POSITION ON SAID BASE MEMBER RADIALLY OF THE AXIS OF THE TRACTION WHEEL WHEN SAID UPPER AREA OF THE MOUNTING MEMBER HAS SAID FACE-TO-FACE ENGGEMENT WITH SAID SEATING AREA, A CUTTER WHEEL SUPPORTE ON SAID MOUNTING MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS UPWARDLY OF THE AXIF OF ROTATION OF SAID TRACTION WHEEL AND IN RADIALLY OVERLAPPING RELATION TO SAID TRACTION WHEEL, A FLANGE EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE MEMBER FORWARDLY OF SAID SEATING AREA AND IN OVERHEAD RELATION TO SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, A SPRING MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PORTION THEREOF IN FACE-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENT WITH AND SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID FLANGE, AND HAVING A SECOND PORTION THEREOF IN FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING RELATION TO SAID FLANGE WITH WHICH SAID CUTTER WHEEL HAS AXIAL ENGAGEMENT, SAID FIRST PORTION OF SAID SPRING MEMBER HAVING A REARWADLY FRACING EDGE WITH WHICH SAID MOUNTING MEMBER HAS FORWARD ENGAGEMENT TO PREVENT WITH WITHDRAWAL OF SAID MOUNTING MEMBER FROM SAID INTERFITTING SUPPORT MEANS. 